Why I Love Aquamarine
Being a teenager is kind of like living in a communist country. Have I mentioned that?
Communication within said communist country is severely limited. No messages are allowed in. Few messages are allowed out. The regime (teenage queen bees or any other group of friends) cuts you off from all other sources of influence until you forget you are living in a world bigger than the small area of your immediate proximity.
Remember that feeling? As a teenager you feel the watchful eyes of your peers even when they are nowhere in sight. You feel their judgment and think of ways to win their approval. It is a nasty regime. A manipulative government.
My parents did an awesome thing during my years behind the Iron Curtain. Like the smartest outsiders who were able to send in secret messages of hope to the prisoners inside the communist controlled countries, my parents found a way to penetrate the walls of my too-small world.
When everyone else in my sophomore class ordered a class ring, my mom made me a better offer – a daughter’s ring. Even now I’m not sure how she did that. Mom, how did you do that? But somehow, even though teenagers are known for temporary decisions and not foresight, I remember thinking I would wear the daughter’s ring longer than I would wear a chunky ring with an eagle inscribed on the band. We told the jeweler my birthday month and the birthday months of both of my parents.
What arrived was the most beautiful ring I had ever seen. In the middle was a pale aquamarine stone; one each side were the smaller birthstones of my parents, one golden topaz and one dark purple amethyst. The setting was silver, another sign of my weakened state since I picked it to match my braces. Like I said, it’s a rough country.
That ring was a parenting stroke of genius. Every time I wore that ring I was reminded of my real place in this world. I was reminded that I belonged to something bigger than the high school corridors I walked and the teenage relationships I cherished. Like the leaflets dropped from bombers during war, my little aquamarine sat on my finger and whispered messages of hope and safe passage.
*The ring in this photo is an antique from the Flikr account Camellia Collection.
Kathy is a genius! How on earth does she come up with this stuff?!
Also, this was gorgeous writing. Gorgeous.
Thanks, May! That means a lot coming from you.
And I’m waiting to hear from Mom on this one. I’m not sure if she’s going say, “Oh, yeah, I had that all planned out.” Or if she’ll just laugh and be happy that it looked like she was so smart! : )
I do love the way Mom and Dad spoke into the curtain. I sure hope we inherited that brilliance.
Well, first, I’m crying in the airport waiting area, which is so not cool. Second, I think we actually stole that idea. Wish I could remember from whom. We did have it planned for quite a while before the curtain came down. And I must say, you girls did a great job of keeping a hole open in the barricade. You crept back through to our side pretty much every day at 3:00pm. I’m thankful for that.
Mom and Dad must have gotten reeeally good at getting the secret messages through by the time they got to me. I barely remember the iron curtain! But I do remember my ring.
I agree on all accounts… the teenage years were awful! This is beautiful writing to be able to bring me to tears and Kathy totally IS a genius! I love you and your family SO much and I will always appreciate your written words.
That is such an awesome idea. I love it. I’m so glad my daughter is finished with the wall years. I just love her company so much. We’re going to the beach together for part of her spring break and I can hardly wait!
Beautiful post!
Felicity, this is so beautifully written! I’m just in awe at how you so perfectly captured in words the experience of teen-dom. Thanks for letting us peer into your life… I’m so inspired by you!
I like that idea and I like that your kiddos will be receiving their rings a little before mine so I can be reminded of this wonderful idea when the time comes.